Timing apparatus



June 2, 1931. R. M. HlcKs TIMING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1928 Ik@Alli-TT wm Imm wm W Ik w O E TM N N R Ed O vn u, T N0 T W .M um /ww hPatented June 2, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND M. HICKS, OF EAST ORANGE,NEW JERSEY TIMING APPARATUS Application filed October 29, 1928. SerialNo. 315,720.

This invention relates to Vtiming apparatus and more particularly toelectrical circuits and apparatus for giving visual or other signals tonumerous operatives at .predetermined intervals.

Although not limited thereto, the invention' is particularly adaptablefor use in connection with the method of .timing the use of electricalcircuits such as telephone I lo lines, as described and claimed in thepatent to:Jesse L. Boynton, No. 1,664,873, issued April 3, 192s.

The objects of the invention include the provision of apparatus ofthetype indicated, which is dependable in operation and relatively simplein construction.

Y Further and more specific objects, features and, advantages will more.clearly `appear from the detailed description given below, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of thisspecii-.

cation.

The drawing schematically illustrates circuit arrangements andaccompanying de.

vices as comprising one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing an incandescent lamp is indicated at '10 which may be ofany suit- Y 4,Utable type such as is usedas indicating lamps on'telephone central ofiice switchboards. One-of-suchlamps may be locatedat each of numerous operatives? positions on the switchboard.` vOneterminal of each of such Y l135 lamps may be connected to battery 'andground as indicated at 11,'and the other terminal 12 may beV connectedto one of a plurality of lead wires as at 13. For eX- ample,if theswitchboard is provided with 4o 72 positions, 12 of the lead wires 13may be provided, each lead wire running to 6 of the lamps connected inparallel. The manner' in which Vthe lamps for the various successivepositions along the switchboardV may be connected with the various wires13, is indicated in the drawing. For example, the lower wire isindicated as being connected to positions '1, 4, 7,110, 13 and 16. Ac-

cordingly,.when.a ground connection is, ap-` plied tothis wire, thelamps V10 at these positions will be flashed for giving a signal to theoperators at such positions. The circuits hereinafter described are soarranged that the wires 13 are divided intofthree groups, each groupbeingenergiz'ed successively, with the result that the signal lamp ateach position is ashed at regular arbitrary predetermined intervals, butthe signal lamps at adjacent positions on the switchboard are arrangedto be yflashed at different times. For instance,- when the lamp atposition 4 is flashed, the lamps at positions 3 and 5 will not beflashed, but at a predetermined time after the flashing of the lamp atposition 4, the lamp at position 5 willbe flashed and at a laterinterval the lamps at positions 3 and 6 will be flashed. Accordingly,when a signal is given'to a certain operator, indicating that i certainsteps must bet-aken to control overtime pay` ments, for example, on thetelephone lines under her control, she may readily attend to such dutiesand if Van excess number of telephone calls should occur at kherposition at that time, the operators at theadjacent positions will befree to assist inmal{ing p are under the control of relays' at'14, 15

and 16, each of such relays having four make contacts as at '17connecting the corresponding. four lead wires'13to a ground as at 18when one of said relays is energized. Each of the relays thereforecontrols the energization of four of the connection wires 13, which inturn control the flashing 01524 lamps arranged at the various operatorspositions in the manner indicated in the drawing, the current to thecircuits ot these 24 lampsbeing divided between four of the contacts 17in order tol minimize deterioration of the contacts. 'i

One terminal of each ofthe relaysl 14, 15' andV 16 maybe connected tobattery and ground as at 19, the other; terminals respectively runningtocam operated switches as at 20, 2l and 22 arranged to operate rtherelays successively according to a predetermined cycle of operation.From the switches 20, 21 and 22, circuits are continued by a connectionwire as at 23 to another cam operated switch as at 24, thence by aconnection wire 25 to a pair of make contacts as at 26 on a relay 27,thence to ground 28. The relay 27 may be connected as indicated to abusy back flashing circuit7 or other suitable source ofcurrent which isintermittently supplied Aat Asuitable f-requency'xto give the desiredflashing eiect at the lamps 10. A pair of contacts is provided .at .26"in order to insure dependability of operation.

It will be observed that the function of the relays 14, 15 and16Vaccording to time intervals depending upon :the manner of oper` ationof .the cam Voperated switches'd20, 21,

VandI 24.

The @am Operated 'Switches 20, 21322 arid i 24 respectively maybecontrolled by cam lll) members 29,r 30, 3l and 8,2- Gam member' 32 maybe mounted to rotate with a shaft 33 to 'which in turn rotationalmovement may be intermittently imparted as. :by @i magnet34 operativelyvassociated with the shaft as by a paw-l and armature member 35 andratchet 36. The circuit of magnet 34 may ybe intermittently.energized atintervals to 'impart the desired speed of rotation to may be connectedin the usual electric clock circuit so as to receive Aone impulse duringevery six seconds. The ratchet v36 may for' @example be provided .withten teeth, in

which event ,thecam 32 will revolve at the rate 'Of Op@ IGyplutop perminute.'

A gear .box .as .at 37 maybe' associated with the ,Shaft 3 3 fordriving' va shaft 38 carrying the V,cams 29,30 and31. The gear shaft 38and. the cams carried thereon to revolvel at the rate of one-tenthrevolution perminute. l

The cam 32 may be provided' with a raised portion 39 for engaging theswitch 24 to close the samj'e during Substantially one- -third of thetime of each revolution of the cam 32. Each of the ca ins 29,30 and 31may be provided with a' pair of raised portions Vas at 40 for `engagingthev corresponding cam switches to` cause the same to close twice duringeach revolution of said cams,

'the closing period in each case being, 'for example, approximatelyone-*twentieth of the period of one revolution. The raised portions 40on the several'camsl are placedl i in angular positions such that duringthe first 2O second interval of eachof three succeeding'minutes, the.three relays 14 15 andY 16 respectively will operate to flash 'the cor-@Spending sieurs pflamps ,fer peripds 0f 20 seconds. During thesucceeding two minutes none of the lamps will be flashed. Thereafter thecycle kof operation may be repeated so that each of the signal lamps onthe switchboard is caused to flash for a period of 2O seconds onceduring every live minutes. -The raised portion 39 on the cam 32 isplaced atan angular posit-ion, such that the switch 20 makes contactbefore switch 24 closes, and also so that switch 20 moves to openposition `only after switch 24 has broken the circuit.` Switches 21 and22 are .also preferably arranged to cooperate with switch 24 in likemanner so that the operating circuit of relays 14, 15 and 16 may befinally fniadwpr broken by the relatively rapidly 'operating .Switch 24,.the relatively slowly operating switches 2Q, 21 and 22 actuating onlywhen their circuits are deenergized.A Itmay 4be noted Vthat switch 24 attimes may 'operate when the rela-y Wis deenersiretl; ,SQ that yl)rtkinjs.0f the circuit will not always occur at the contacts ofswitch`24 whenthe `same operates. The life of the conr'acts of switch 24 `is thereby,considerably prolonged. c f

It will be observedit'hat the )above described arran ement, theoperatingycurrent necessary or the numerous lamps is p "thermore,`wli-ile therelati'vely 'slowA moving the shaft 33. For example,l the'magnet 34 contacts for controlling Ythe', lamp relays are of ar'cing atsucli contacts is eliminated -by reason of the control eifected by therelatively rapidly moving cam operated'switch and the flashing relay.'The circuits and .der vices are therefore arranged to v.provide4dependable operation over a relatively long 'period of years. Y

While the invention has been described ,in detail with respect to aypreferred .embodiment of the'same, it will be understood those skilledin .the art, iafter understanding theinvention, that various changes andmodifications may be made without .departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention, andit is intended therefore in the appended claimstocover all such changes and modifications. s y c n 'i What is .claimedasv ,new and ,desired t0 lbe secured by Letters Patent of the. UnitedVStates is:

Acomprising several .Contact dey-ces respectively .for preparing.Cirtuits forcoptrcllna Several: grQupS pf. lamps. siittessvel-yf andand for breaking such current before the latter moves to open circuitposition.

2. A lamp flashing circuit arrangement comprising several contactdevices respectively for preparing circuits for controlling severalgroups of lamps successively, and an additional and relatively morerapidly moving contact device for establishing a current in a circuitrunning to any one of said first named contact devices, and for breakingsuch current before the latter moves to open circuit position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of groups ofelectrical signaling devices, said groups being divided into subgroups,a multicontact relay controlling operating circuits for each of saidgroups and having a contact individual to each subgroup, rotatablecontact devices respectively for preparing circuits for controlling saidrelays, and an additional and relatively more rapidly moving contactdevice for establishing a current in a circuit running to any one ofsaid first named contact devices and for breaking such current beforethe latter moves to open circuit position.

4. In apparatus of the class described for use in connection with aseries of switchboard operators positions, an indicator lamp at each ofsaid positions, means to flash said lamps in predetermined sequences,pluralities of the lamps respectively at separated positions beingflashed concurrently, said means comprising a clock controlled circuit,a rotatable element controlled thereby, a plurality of rotatable Aswitchdevices, means operatively connecting said rotating element to rotatesaid switch devices as a group at a rate slower than the rotation ofsaid element, a flashing circuit, and multi- Contact relay meansoperating under the control of said flashing circuit and through saidswitch devices whereby each of said pluralities of lamps is flashed insuccession once during each cycle of movement of said switch devices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

RAYMOND M. HICKS.

